Version 6.01

11 February 2025

David March © 2014

Margaret Connell was born on 17 October 1889 in Moore Park, Manitoba and Jean Connell was born on 27 July 1892 in Moore Park to Thomas James Connell (1856-1926) & Isabel (Bella) Carswell (1859-1932). They had one sibling, James Lorne Connell (1894-1965). Thomas & Bella had married on 20 July 1887 in Cornwallis, Manitoba. For twenty years they farmed in Odanah, Marquette, Manitoba but Thomas worked as an immigration inspector from 1911 when they moved to Provencher, Manitoba until his retirement.

After Thomas’ death on 27 October 1926 in Winnipeg, Bella joined her daughters in Saskatoon and the three lived together in various apartments, mainly in The Parkview, 445 5th Ave N.

Both Margaret and Jean made careers in teaching mainly in Saskatoon. Margaret taught at Wilson School for many years and Jean at Buena Vista School. Margaret taught for 27 years until her death. She died on 24 November 1942 and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Saskatoon. Jean retired from King Edward School in 1949 after a teaching career spanning 33 years. She died on 19 May 1966 and is buried in the adjacent plot to Margaret in Woodlawn Cemetery.

James Lorne Connell enlisted in the CEF on 24 November 1915 in Emerson, Manitoba at which time he was a dental student. Lorne married Mabel Gertrude Killins (1894-1963) another dental student/dentist and they settled in Prince Albert. They had two children, George and Mary. Mabel continued to practise dentistry throughout her life. There are references to her as John Diefenbaker’s dentist. She was a part-time member of the Canadian Board of Broadcast Governors from its inauguration in 1958 until her death. The Lorne and Mabel Connell Fund is awarded to a student of the University of Saskatchewan and continues to be funded by their family.

The family tree can be found on Ancestry under the title 3rd Ave Connell Tree.

 MARGARET and JEAN CONNELL

In 1938, Margaret and Jean took a vacation trip to the United States by bus. The signatures above are from their border crossing cards.